Miod.Co Raw, local honey. Anti-inflammatory properties. Real research
We get asked the same question every spring: Does honey really help with hay fever?
It’s a fair question. If you ask my grandmother, the answer is Yes!
Grandmas know best. Right?
Let’s check the research.
Why People Think Honey Helps
Simply put, raw, local honey contains trace amounts of pollen from the plants around you. By consuming small amounts regularly, you, in theory, gently expose your immune system to those pollen particles. Similar in principle to how immunotherapy (allergy desensitisation) works in a clinical setting.
This is partly why so many people seek out local, raw honey during allergy season.
Let’s Look at the Research
Only a handful of clinical trials have ever looked at honey and allergy symptoms directly.
The Finnish birch pollen study (2011)
Researchers in Finland gave 44 people with diagnosed birch pollen allergy either honey containing added birch pollen or regular honey, starting several months before pollen season. A third group took only their usual medication. The group consuming honey with birch pollen reported
- a 60% lower overall symptom score, experienced twice as many symptom-free days
- 70% fewer days with severe symptoms compared to the medication-only group.
- They also used significantly fewer antihistamines.
There was also improvement reported from the group who consumed the regular honey. The difference between the two honey groups was relatively small.
So, in this particular study, people who took honey with and without pollen, have reported improved symptoms.
The Malaysian placebo-controlled trial (2013)
A placebo-controlled study involving 40 patients with allergic rhinitis found that those who consumed high-dose raw honey—as opposed to honey-flavoured corn syrup as placebo—daily (1g per kilogram of body weight) alongside standard antihistamine medication showed significant improvement across all individual allergy symptoms; nasal itchiness, sneezing, nasal blockage, and runny nose.
The improvement in the honey group persisted for a full month after both the honey and the antihistamine were stopped. The placebo group’s symptoms returned once medication stopped.
The Power of Raw Honey
Not all honey is equal. Raw honey is honey that hasn’t been pasteurised or heavily filtered. It contains a range of bioactive compounds that processed honey lacks.
These include:
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- Flavonoids and phenolic acids — natural compounds with documented anti-inflammatory effects. Inflammation drives many hay fever symptoms, from a swollen nose to itchy eyes.
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- Antioxidant polyphenols — which may help reduce oxidative stress and cellular damage associated with allergic reactions.
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- Prebiotic properties — some researchers suggest that raw honey may promote beneficial gut bacteria. A healthy gut microbiome helps regulate immune responses, including how the body reacts to allergens.
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- Natural enzymes — retained because the honey hasn’t been heated. These enzymes are destroyed in pasteurised supermarket honey. That’s why we never pasteurise ours.
So, even if the local honey theory is shaky, raw high quality honey may offer genuine anti-inflammatory and immune-supporting properties that could make allergy season a little more bearable.
Our Honest Position
Honey has always been part of our approach to seasonal wellness; a spoonful in the morning, stirred into tea, or eaten straight from the jar. We believe in it. But we also believe in honesty, and we’d never tell you honey is a cure for hay fever. It isn’t.
What we can say is this: raw honey is a genuine, natural food with well-documented anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. A small number of clinical studies suggest it may provide complementary relief for allergy symptoms when taken regularly at meaningful doses. And many of our customers tell us it’s become an important part of their hay fever routine.
We think that’s worth sharing. Honestly.
How To Try It: a Practical Guide
If you’d like to give raw honey a go during hay fever season, here’s what the research and our own experience suggest:
Start early and be consistent. The Finnish study began honey consumption months before pollen season. The Malaysian study used daily doses for four weeks. This isn’t a quick fix. It’s a daily habit.
Use raw, unprocessed honey. Pasteurised honey has had its enzymes, pollen, and many bioactive compounds destroyed by heat. If you’re trying honey for wellness, raw is essential. Our honey is always raw.
Consider a meaningful dose. The Malaysian study used 1g per kilogram of body weight daily. That’s roughly three to four tablespoons for an average adult. A single teaspoon is lovely in tea, but if you’re aiming for potential allergy benefits, the research suggests a more generous daily amount.
Don’t replace your medication. Honey should complement your usual treatment, not replace it. If you take antihistamines or use a nasal spray, keep using it. Think of honey as an addition to your routine, not a substitute.
Talk to your GP if symptoms are severe. For serious hay fever or asthma triggered by pollen, please seek medical advice. Honey is a food, not a medicine.
The Hay Fever Bundle
A natural staple for the allergy season. This bundle lets you build a personalised toolkit of raw honey, gathered from the same landscapes where you live and travel.
Whether you are starting a daily ritual or simply preparing for the pollen, it’s a straightforward way to keep the Scottish seasons on your side. Simply select any three jars from our range to create a set that fits your taste and your routine.
Our Hay Fever Range
We’ve put together a range of products that our customers reach for during allergy season. Each one is raw, unprocessed, and made with real ingredients:
Our Scottish Spring Set is a wildflower spring honey harvested from the nectar of early-season blossoms across East Lothians. Characterised by its pale, creamy hue and a smooth, “buttery” texture.
Our Scottish Blossom is clear honey that captures the peak of the Scottish summer. Foraged within the iconic 100-acre estate of Jupiter Artland, it is a bright, liquid gold honey that reflects the unique intersection of wild Scottish nature and curated wildflower meadows.
Turmeric Infused Honey is a potent super food, blending our signature Scottish Spring Set honey with premium, high-curcumin turmeric root. Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties are well-documented, making this an instinctive addition to your allergy toolkit.
Lemon and Ginger infused honey is a bright, refreshing pick-me-up built upon the smooth, fudge-like foundation of our Scottish Spring Set honey. Velvety honey mixed with zesty citrus and fiery spice creates a thick, spreadable honey with a luminous golden glow.
Hot Toddy offers a decadent, buttery mouthfeel that melts instantly on the tongue, as it does in liquids. The mild, vanilla notes of the Spring Set provide a smooth canvas for the rich, floral aromas of the Heather honey. The addition of Highland Single Malt Whisky introduces a delicate depth of toasted oak and honeyed grain
